From Nurse to Global Business Leader: How One MBA Redefined Her Career Path

MBA Blog / 15th October 2025

GBSB Global Business School

When Faith Ann Norman left her job at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, few would have guessed that she was headed to Barcelona, not for vacation but to earn an MBA and transform her professional identity.

A registered nurse with five years of surgical experience, Norman had built a solid career specializing in neurosurgery and otolaryngology. During the pandemic, she was promoted to charge nurse, a leadership role requiring her to manage resources, coordinate teams, and make critical decisions quickly under pressure.

This experience made her wonder: What if leadership could be her next full-time job?

“I began to realize that my real interest was in solving complex problems,” Norman recalls. “The MBA wasn’t just a degree—it was a way to increase my impact.”

A Non-Traditional Candidate in a Global Classroom

Faith Norman enrolled at GBSB Global Business School in Barcelona, an institution known for its diverse student body and emphasis on innovation. Although she lacked a background in business, she brought a set of skills honed in high-pressure situations.

At first, the learning curve was steep. “ROI and supply chain weren’t part of my vocabulary as a nurse,” she admits. However, GBSB Global offered preparatory courses in Excel and accounting to help bridge the gap. Soon, her unique background became a competitive advantage.

Her classmates took note. “Faith was the only one without prior business experience,” says Christian Wilcox, an MBA student from New York. “But she brought perspectives that I simply wouldn’t have seen after ten years in an office.”

Norman quickly learned to translate her nursing expertise into business terms. Scheduling surgeries resembled project management. Coordinating with physicians and surgical technicians resembled stakeholder management. Even patient advocacy offered lessons in negotiation.

“One day, I realized that the operating room had been my first MBA classroom,” she reflects.

Becoming a Business Professional—Without Loosing Yourself

By the end of the program, Norman had undergone more than an academic transformation; she had reshaped her self-perception.

“On the first day of Business Analytics, I introduced myself as a nurse,” she says. “On the last day, the professor told me, ‘Now, you’re a business professional with healthcare expertise.’ That moment changed everything for me.”

Her classmates noticed the shift as well. “Faith evolved into someone completely different,” says Mostafa Salah Ahmed, a Cairo peer. “She adapted quickly and surprised us all.”

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